“PRESIDENT Mahinda Rajapaksa, as Commander - in -Chief visited areas such as Mulankavil and Thunukkai and his visit served a great boost and strength to the soldiers. President Rajapaksa has already given the verbal approval for payment of ‘hardlying allowance’ to all soldiers in the Army wherever he works,” so said Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya this morning (06) when he met a cross section of troops in 61 Division Headquarters in Vellankulam, Wanni for the first time after most recent military victories.
The Commander’s visit in the company of Wanni Security Forces Commander Major General Kamal Gunarathne, Army Headquarters Director General Operations Major General Shavendra Silva and 61 Division Commander Brigadier Nissanka Ranawana came about just a day after President Mahinda Rajapaksa visited Thunukkai and Mulankavil areas. The visiting Commander was received by Major General Kamal Gunaratne, Commander Security Forces Wanni.
The Army Commander on his arrival at the premises was greeted to a guard turnout and a Guard of Honour accorded to him by the troops in 61 Division in keeping with military traditions.
Afterwards, the Commander addressed the troops assembled there, including airmen serving 61 Division Headquarters. In his address, the Commander specified that it was the political leadership that helped to achieve military victories in the past. President Rajapaksa visited the areas such as Mulankavil and Thunukkai. This visit of the President as the Commander-in-Chief was a great strength and a boost to the soldiers serving those areas.
The Army Commander told the troops that he had already received the verbal approval from the President to pay the “hardlying allowance” to all the soldiers in the Army.
“Since I was quite familiar with the terrain in Wanni, I could understand the pulses of soldiers and field commanders as well. As an Army, which has achieved unprecedented glorious victories, we should be able to safeguard those victories without tarnishing the image of the organization. In the Army we should perform our duties as one family. The government is seeking our assistance in the rehabilitation and resettlement process and we offer that assistance through civil administrative authorities. We must be able to win the hearts and minds of the people who are now resettled in those areas, so that there would not be any space left for the cruel terrorism to raise its head again. We must live in a united country under one flag and one National Anthem as a nation. The government is satisfied with the work we have done so far in the Northern and Eastern provinces. President Rajapaksa has also promised to continue welfare work for soldiers. Soldiers are also liable for Army and Civil laws. Therefore soldiers should always maintain proper discipline,” Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya highlighted.
Later on, he instructed senior officers to be in constant touch with serving soldiers and look into their problems and grievances, if any, and officers should be able to help them resolve such matters. He also gave further instructions on matters concerning security and development in those areas.
Before his departure, Lieutenant General Jayasuriya planted a jak sapling in the 61 Division Headquarters premises as a symbolic token of his visit to the place.
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